Israel Removes Some Outposts;
Abbas Works to End Violence

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Israel took the first steps toward fulfilling its pledge to dismantle settler outposts in the West Bank, a requirement of the U.S.-backed Middle East peace plan.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas continued to try to persuade Palestinian militants to end their campaign of violence against Israelis, another requisite of the so-called road map. He denounced weekend attacks by Palestinian...